Catamenial device



. Oct 9, 1945. v. CALHOUN 2,386,590

CATAMENIAL DEVICE Filed Oct. 12, 1940 INVENTOR VERNON CALHOUN ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 9, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,386,590 CATAMENIAL nnvron Vernon Calhoun, Chicago, Ill. Application October 12, 1940, Serial No. 360,991

28 Claims.

The invention relates to a catamenial device of the type in which an intravaginal tampon is located in the vaginal canal by means of an inserting applicator comprising a tubular holder for the tampon and a retainer or plunger operating telescopically in the holder to eject the tampon therefrom after it is located in place.

Such devices now known comprise a rigid outer pasteboard tube resembling a small size mailing tube in one end of which is snugly fitted a cylindrical plug of compressed cotton and within the other end of which snugly fits a rigid, cylindrical inner tube intended to be guided by the outer tube and to operate as a plunger to remove the cotton plug from the outer tube or holder.

Such forms of internal catamenial devices have an advantage in the act of inserting them in place over the older method of inserting intravaginal tampons by digital action in that the long holder insures the locating of the tampon in the less sensitive region high in the vaginal canal and well back of the contractor muscles (m. constrictor cunni) at the vaginal orifice or introitus vaginea and as the plug is shielded by the holder while being inserted the possibility of distorting or loosening'the compressed plug is avoided.

However, in actual practice, such known forms possess certain inherent features which have not proven satisfactory to the purchasing public. The objectionable features developed in use pertain primarily to the outer pasteboard tube or holder in its snug fitting relation both to the inner tube and to the cotton plug which it carries. vices that they be made of some soluble material so that when discarded and thrown into the toilet hopper they will quickly disintegrate and thus avoid sewerage stoppage and this means that both tubes must have water absorbing qualities. It is also an economic requirement from the manufacturing standpoint that these tubes be made of long, cylindrical form, preferably on a paper tube forming machineat present designed only to form cylindrical tubes, and the tubes cut therefrom to the desired length.

These necessary requirements more or less limit the outer tube to a cylindrical form of some paper-like material having deliquescent properties. However, the fact that the tubes of the present forms of the device are made of deliquescent material means that the device can absorb atmospheric moisture even before use, and,

I ency to collapse or bend.

It is a necessary requirement of such de- Among other objections to the present forms of such devices is that the outer tube being thus necessarily made sufliciently rigid to function as the barrel of the tight fitting plunger device is uncomfortable and may even prove dangerous to the user in the act of inserting it in place. Its. resistance to transverse distortion from its circular cross sectional form prevents the tube from conforming to the somewhat fiat elliptical contour in cross section which the contractor muscles tend to give the tube as it is passed into the vaginal orifice and its resistance to lengthwise bending about any transverse axis prevents it from curving orbending upwardly to fit in the vaginal canal. The result is that the lower edge of the advancing end of the outer tube scrapes along the bottom wall of the vaginal canal and the resulting feeling of non-conformity of the device to the particular vaginal canal in which it is being inserted gives a feeling of discomfort to the user.

The primary object of the invention is to provide animproved form of intravaginal catamenial device of the plunger applicator type which will be of simple construction, easy to manufacture, and, which will avoid, or, at least, tend to avoid the above outlined objectionable features.

Broadly, this invention features a plunger type of applicator resembling those above discussed but in which the plunger element is spaced in- I wardly from the outer tube a distance sufficient particularly, in the case of a heavy menstrual at all times to avoid contact therewith even when the tubes, particularly the outer tube, have become distorted from their original cylindrical form and size either by absorption of atmospheric water before insertion in place, or, thereafter, by the absorption of the menstrual flow, or by the action of the contractor muscles, or by contact with the walls of the vaginal canal during the time the tampon is being located in place.

' Making the ejector or plunger with a cross sectional area materially less than the internal diameter, of the outer tube not only avoids the formation of the double thickness of material and rigidity in the wall defining the applicator but it permits a freedom of action of the plunger in ejecting the plug even when the plunger is not centered axially in the outer tube as when the outer tube has assumed, more or less, not only the elliptical form imposed thereon by the contractor muscles but has also assumed the longitudinally curved form imposed thereon by the curvature or bends of the particular canal in which the applicator is intruded.

Intravaginal tampons in their solid, all cotton, cylindrical forms as heretofore known have not prevented leakage especially in the case where the menstrual flow is particularly heavy. This has been due, among other reasons, to the fact that the discharged liquids in their natural tendency to flow downwardly along the bottom wall of the vaginal canal quickly saturate the lower portion of the tampon more or less to its capacity and before the upper-portion of the tampon can begin to absorb its apportioned amount of the flow and under these. circumstances a small stream then works its way past the tampon along the juncture between the lower, side of the tampon and the adjacent wall of the canal. by-passing flow once starts, the tampon, of course, quickly loses its eiiiciency.

Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide a form of tampon which will act to receive and distribute the menstrual flow more evenly throughout its mass than is possible with the known forms and in this way utilize the full absorbing capacity of the tampon and at the same time provide a self-expanding tampon which in use will mushroom o1- balloon outwardly into a shape to best fit the canal to close the same.

Broadly, this aspect of the invention is attained by providing in the advance end of the plug and thus in the resulting tampon a centrally located recess, or pin-like opening forming a well for receivin v the menstrual flow and for conducting the same substantially without flow resistance centrally and axially into the body of the tampon so that the'flow will be absorbed therefrom by radial outward movement in addition to the absorption by the inward movement of the flow characterizing known forms of such devices not provided with such internal distributing means.

As a further refinement in construction of the, tampon in its internal fluid distributing function, the present disclosure features the use of narrow kerfs, folds, cuts, or other-form of liquid conducting passageways in the advance end of the tampon exposed to the cervix for assisting the flow both outwardly from the center recess and inwardly from the end and thus providing for an enlargement of the absorbing area of the tam 2,355,628 granted August 15, 1944.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawing and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of two forms of the device and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed. I

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in axial cross section of an early form of the invention disclosing one form or the apertured tampon or fluid distributing feature of the invention as marketed ready for use;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the apertured end at the right side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a preferred and later form of the inventions herein featured;

Fig. 4 is an end view looking at the right end of Fig. 3; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are both vertical medial sectional views through the vaginal tract; with Fig. 5 showing the applicator of Fig. 3 in positionin the vaginal canal with the plug partly When this embodying the apertured tampon feature of the invention and one form of the applicator feature.

ejected and slightly expanded at its advance end; and

Fig. 6 showing the tampon in its finally ejected and operative position, slightly swollen in use and with the applicator removed.

In the drawing and referring first to the older form shown in Fig. 1, there is disclosed a plug, tampon, or pad which comprises an elongated strip of absorbent cotton or similar material through the center of which a seam is sewed. The strip is compressed under relatively high pressure to form a highly compressed cylindrical core I3 of sufficient compactness to retain its shape until moistened. The core I3 isplaced in an outer tube ll of cardboard. An inner tube l5 of similar material is slid within one extremity of the outer tube It to hold the core iii in place therein. The other extremity of the tube is formed with an inwardly rounded edge IE to assist in maintaining the core II in place therein. A depending thread I! extends from the plug 13 through the inner tube I5. As thus far described, the Fig. 1 embodiment of the invention is the commercial form of the invention described in the patent to Haas, No. 1,926,900, September 12, 1933.

The particular feature of novelty added is the providing in the advance end of the core or plug l3 of an axially extending pin-like recess i1 proiecting into the plug for about a third of its length leaving the other or rear end of the plug of solid compressed cotton.

This advance end of the plug is also provided with a plurality, inthis case shown to be four, cuts or kerfs I8 of less length than the recess l1, extending radially of the plug with their inner edges open tothe recess I1 and their outer edges opening both through the end wall is and through the perimeter 20 of this end of the plug.

Referring to the preferred form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, there is shown an applicator 2| comprising an outer tube or tampon-plug holder 22 having its bore 23 wide open at one end to form a plug containing portion 24. The other end of the tube 22 is crimped inwardly to form an internal annular flange 25 constituting a closure for the rear'end of the tube and which closure is provided centrally thereof with a small circular opening 28.

Fitted loosely within the open end portion 24 is a plug 21 intruded into the bore for approximately half the length of the tube and adapted when in operative position clear of the applicator as shown in Fig. 6 to form an elongated intravaginal tampon 28. An inner tube 29 forming a vide a material degree of clearance 38 tile between. While this may result in the plug aci vide a finger piece 30 by means of which the plunger is held or manipulated.

Insofar as the disclosure in Fig. 3 is concerned, the plug' is. an elongated preformed .body of a highly compressed cotton including a cylindrical body portion 3| loosely inserted in the open end of the outertube. While this form of the invention as illustrated is provided with an enlarged, 0.

hard, bulbous head 32, this is a feature described and claimed in a copending application. In this application, it is intended that the advance end of both the core l3 and plug 21 may project slightly beyond the advance and oi the holder 2 tube to form a mushroom headas is known in the prior art, and thus the core or plug may each be considered simply as being oi {substantially cylindrical form from end to end. Th'etubes 22' and 29 are each prepared from strips ofpaper j spirally wrapped to form paper" cylinders and having sufflcient rigidity to maintain their initial form when not in use. The outer tube has sum cient flexibility to permit a slight bending there of both longitudinally and transversely.

The advance end of the plug 21 is provided with a small cylindrical pin-like recess 31 similar to the recess i1 and likewise opening at the forward end and extending inwardly axially of the plug through the head 3'2 for a short distance beyond the plane of the adjacent end of the plug rpri'ab e action should the substantially non-dis ton plug end in advance into the vaginal canal a, the rounded edge IQ of the Fig. 1 form and the rounded head 32 of the Fig. 3 form assisting in momentarily distending the contractor muscles' at the vaginal orifice b. With the applicator of the Fig. 1 form in place, the inner tube i5 bears on and ejects the core I 3 into the canal following known practices. 7 v o As the outer tube 22 in theFig. 3 form of the invention is being inserted, its flexibility pern'iitsv its distortion from its initial cross sectional .circular form into a more or less flat, elliptical form or the like, as-may be imposed thereon by the action of the contractor muscles. Stretchingthe contractor muscles in whatever may be their natural radial direction of stretchtends to relieve what might otherwise be an'uncomtortab'le formoi' applicator shown in" Fig, lbe

used; At this time the outer tube may begin to absorbv m'olstur'e, p'articularlyin the case or a heavy flow with the result that -the outer tube carrier, or holder tube 22. The advance end of" tion of the plug as by means of stitching 31.

and projects from the outer tube exteriorally of the inner tube 29 and past the opening 26. This arrangement facilitates the assembly of the device in that the cord does not have to be threaded through the bore of the inner tube as in the Fig. 1 disclosure.

While the plug 21 may have a sliding loose lit in the portion 24 of the outer tube, it is sug-. gested thatthe diameter of the plug in the cylindrical body portion- 3l bev of less diameter than the internal diameter of the tube'so as to pro dentally slipping out of the tube, it is a usual practice to sell these devices in a wrapper resembling a cigar wrapper'which will'tend to keep the plug in'place and even if it should come out may quickly begin to become distorted but due to the clearance 38 any incidental contraction of the tube bore will not'interiere with the subsequent operation of either plug or plunger.

As the forward portion of the Fig. 3 form of the device meetsthe lower wall .0 of the upturned canal a beyond the contractor muscles, the canal walls react thereon and tend to bend the outer tube 22 more dries out of .its original straight cylindrical form and into 'thelongitudinally slightly bent or curved form shown in Fig. 5 even before the plunger is actuated to eject the plug 21. Any such bendingof the outer tube 22 will not be resisted by th smaller tube plunger 29 nor by the cotton plug. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the outer tube even though bent and even though constricted will in no way effect 40 the desired freedom of longitudinal action of the .thedevice should be intruded' I g ithfthe applicator so -located,'the' userwill either advance the piunger 29 more or less axially while holding the protruding nd oi the tube 1 22-stationary, or'she will hold the plunger 22 while withdrawing thetube 22,'or, most likely; the operation will be a combination of both moveentirely, or partially, the user can easily restore it in place before using the device.

One advantage of providing the greatest posslbleclearance 38 is that the outer tube can be distorted considerably-from its initial cylindrical form without meeting resistance from'the' contained compressed cotton plug which in one form of the invention describedrin the-- copend- In operation and using either form of the in vention, the applicator is inserted with the cotplunger. Using the outer end portion of the tube 22 as a handle, the applicator can be advanced forwardly and upwardly into the canal a, this advance being easy and without discomfort particularly after the forward end has passed the contractor muscles. The user quickly learns, by a sense of feeling and by the progressive increase in resistance to further advance, how far ments with a slight advancing of the freedtampon as the applicator is being removed. 7

It may so happen. that as the plug cants into position it binds against one side of the tube 22.1? As the inner end of the plunger is not fixed axially as in the Fig. 1 showing, it is possible tor-Ithe usertoshift the plunger, swinging it holder, it will'beguide'd'up the rear 'wallgc incidentally assuming, that angle to'the .gen'e'ral' length of the holder asrnay' be imposed thereon by the particular configuration-oi the upper portion of the user's canal as shown in Fig; 5. Even- .about"the flange 25 as a fulcrum to bring'the 1 pushing end laterally and circumferentiall'y into that position best suited to bear on the plug to eject the same. g In any case, there will be relative movement;

between the plungerandi, holder in a direction to eject the plugs U or 21' from their holder l4 and 22 respectively. As the, plug leaves the vof the plug and hold it in place as shown in Fig. 5. The menstrual discharge from the uteral orifice at 1 drops into the cavity 9 and flows on to the adjacent end of the plug and also fiows directly into the open end recesses I1 and 33 in the adjacent end of the tampon.

In most cases, the advance end of the plug begins to absorb moisture as it is advanced towards its final position and thus before it is displaced from the applicator. This has the effect of starting the head 32 to expand and thus opens the cavity g and at the same time quickly seals the juncture between the tampon and the outlining walls of the canal and this tends to prevent leakage from the canal. A final relative movement of the tube and plunger will entirely eject the plug from the tube and then the applicator is withdrawn and thrown away. The walls of the canal between the tampon and orifice b close on themselves and leave the tampon 28 in position as shown in Fig. 6 with the withdrawal cord 38 hanging loose.

As the menstrual flow moves into the recesses I! or 33 which are wide open to receive it, the moisture will be absorbed not only through the end wall l9 and outer surface 35 but also through the internal cylindrical walls outlining the recesses. In this way, the tendency of absorption movement at the advance end of the plug or tampon will be radially outward from the centrally located wells provided by these recesses. The result will be a quick expanding or opening up of the advance end of the cotton plug with a resulting tendency to cause the advance end of the plug in expanding to seal the juncture h between the plug and vaginal walls from leakage past the tampon. This will take place even in the absence of the lateral cuts, kerfs or ducts I3 and 34. With these lateral cuts present a peculiar action takes place. The advance end of the tampon expands with an outward curl like an opening rose and tends to assume a mushroom headed, or, perhaps more accurately, a frustoconical form with its large end facing the uterus. As the advance end of the tampon begins to unfold it will be composed of a plurality of outwardly flared segments 39, four in the illustrated instances, separated from each other and circumferentially arranged about the axis of the tampon. This peculiar petal-like formation tends to force the segments into the folds or sulci i in the vaginal walls thus tending to lock the tampon in place against accidental expulsion.

It is appreciated that as the segments between the cuts H3 or between the grooves 34 begin to absorb moisture they will move outwardly and thus more and more open up their outlining surfaces to expose more and more of their initially closed interior surfaces to receive the menstrual flow until there is exposed to the uterus the maximum possible area of absorbent surface. It is a feature of this disclosure to get the largest possible amount of flow into the advance end of the tampon to cause it to expand into its sealing position and then let the balance of the tampon absorb the subsequent flow to the fullness thereof. When saturated, .the soiled tampon is removed simply by pulling gently on the cord 33. As this withdrawing is with the smaller end of the tampon in advance, the tampon will act as a conical wedge to gently press open the contactor muscles thus permitting an easy withdrawal of the used tampon.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tube entirely open at one end and having an integral inturned flange forming a closure at the other end provided with a constricted opening extending therethrough adjacent its center, a plug of precompressed absorbent material loosely carried by the tube at its open end and adapted to form an intravaginal tampon, and a plunger of substantially cylindrical form having a cross sectional area at its inner, plug engaging portion materially less than the cross sectional area of the bore of the tube through which it moves, said plunger slidably guided axially through said opening and transversely rockable on the closure as a fulcrum, for engaging the tampon to eject the same from the tube as the plunger is rockably advanced across said closure.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of two tubes of a thin paper-like material in telescopic relation, with the inner tube intruded within and initially projecting from one end of the outer tube, the projecting portion of the inner tube constituting a fingerpiece by means of which it may be advanced into the outer tube, said inner tube havingan external diameter materially less than the internal diameter of the outer tube and thus freely movable axially and at least at its inner end to move to a limited degree radially in the outer tube and a preformed plug of absorbent material in the other end of the outer tube, said plug initially having a diameter less than the diameter of the portion of the tube end in which it is contained and adapted to be ejected from the outer tube by pressure applied to any point in the rear end of the plug which may happen to be engaged by said inner end when the inner tube is advanced axially of itself more fully into the outer tube.

3. In a catamenial device, the combination of a tube of paper-like material capable of being slightly distorted from its initial form when in use, anda plug of compressed absorbent material adapted when in use to form an intravaginal tampon, said plu having a portion thereof carried by and disposed in one end of the tube with such degree of looseness in fit therebetween that the tube may be distorted at least slightly without binding the compressed tampon in the tube and the advanced end of the tampon forming a head initially protruding from the tube and adapted when wetted by the menstrual flow to expand automatically from its initially compressed form and in expanding to constitute an expandable clutching means for distending the portion of the canal in which it is contained and thus by reaction causing the walls of the canal engaging the head to hold the tampon in the vaginal canal while the tube is being withdrawn. I

4. An intravaginal catamenial device comprising a tampon of absorbent material, an applicator including a tubular holder into a forward end of which the tampon is temporarily intruded leaving the other end of the tampon exposed and 'alone to maintain its initial form until wetted adapted when the tampon is in operative position in the vaginal canal to face the cervix and said exposed end of the tampon provided with a recess and with a plurality of kerfs extending outwardly from the recess and with its recessed and kerfed end there functioning to direct the menstrual flow directly into the recess and acting by virtue of its absorbing capacity to diffuse the menstrual excretion throughout the tampon 5. An intravaginal catamenial tampon of absorbent material for insertion when dry high into the vaginal canal and capable when dry of maintaining its initial configuration, said tampon initially having an elongated substantially cylindrical form with one end fashioned to face the cavity at the inner nd of the vaginal canal beneath the cervix and to seal the inner portion of the canal, said end provided with an elongated hole extending from said end axially into the cylinder for a portion of the cylinder length and adapted to receive at least some of the menstrual flow from said cavity and said tampon considcred as a whole adapted to absorb the menstrual flow progressively from the end facing the cervix to the opposite end to an amount within the abtion to provide inter-fibre spaces and having at one end an axially extending recess adapted to receive and conduct the menstrual discharge into the interior of the tampon and also provided with at least one long, preformed and distinctive passageway opening at its inner end into the recess to conduct the menstrual excretions laterally from the recess into the inter-fibre spaces of the absorbent material of which the tampon is formed and incidentally cause .the tampon to expand from its initial compressed configuration.

'1. In a plug of initially compressed absorbent material formingan intravaginal catamenial device, a plurality of fluid conducting passageways including one adapted to'receive the menstrual flow and others leading therefrom to distribute the sameinto different portions of the interior of the plug said passageways being of greater cross sectional area and visually distinct from any inter-fibre spaces which may be formed in the material incidental to its being compressed.

8. An intravaginal tampon of absorbent material initially compressed to a prefixed form and adapted when wetted to expand from said initially compressed'form, and said tampon provided at one end with definitely defined and easily and when wetted expansbile in all directions from its initial size a plurality of gamepetulous segments circumierentially arranged about the axis of the tampon to form initially a closed rose-bud effect forming the outer end of the enlarged head, said segments acting when wetted by the menstrual flow to flare outwardly to form a seal for the vaginal canal at the inner end of the tampon and acting to distend the vaginal walls forming the portion of the canal adjacent the neck of the uterus.

10. An intravaginal tampon of cotton compressed to a self-retaining form until wetted and automatically expandablewhen wetted, the inner end of the tampon which is designed to face the cavity in the canal beneath the cervix forming an enlarged head provided with a plurality of intersecting kerfs exposed to said cavity to conduct into the head the menstrual discharge as it accumulates in said cavity, the outer end of the tampon being solid and of substantially cylindrical form, said tampon as it becomes wetted with the menstrual discharge tending to lose its distinctive head and to assume a frusto-conical form and with the larger and originally headed end more saturated than the smaller original cylindrical end and a line of stitching extending through the solid end and thus spaced from the visible flow conducting passageways, some of kerrs and forming a withdrawal cord, capable of functioning so that a pull on the withdrawal cord will act through the relatively dryer, smaller end to withdraw the tampon with its smaller end in advance and in withdrawing tending to elongate .the soiled tampon and thus tending to attain the menstrual flow into the interior of the tampon and said tampon when wetted capable as a whole of assuming a frusto-conical form and said head composed of segmental means when wetted acting to enlarge the initially headed end of the resulting frusto-conical form and in so enlarging to lock the tampon in place in the vaginal canal.

12. An intravaginal tampon of absorbent flrous material having an end adapted when the tampon is in operative position in the vaginal canal to face the cervix and said end provided with inter-fibre spaces and also with at least one kerf extending across the same and functioning in a tendencyto diffuse the menstrual excretion throughout the inter-fibre spaces in the material forming the end of the tampon, and said tampon acting to conduct the excretion received at the interior portion of the kerf in a radially outward direction towards the perimeter of said end of the tampon.

13. In a catamenial device, the combination of an initially self-sustaining catamenial tampon of substantially cylindrical form composed of compressed absorbent material and capable of expanding in all directions from its initial dimensions when wetted by the menstrual flow, one end of the tampon fashioned to face the cavity in the vaginal canal beneath the cervix and providing an exposed convex end surface for receiving the menstrual flow and said tampon acting to cause the flow so received through said convex surface to percolate throughout the tampon particularly in an axial direction and said end also provided with means opening through the crown portion of said surface and forming a menstrual flow absorbing surface within the interior of the tampon, extendin axially for a material portion of its length and disposed when the tampon is in place in the vagina to have its receiving end open directly to said cavity to receive the discharge therefrom, said tampon acting to cause the flow so received to percolate in a general radial direction outwardly toward its perimeter and shielding means confined to the portion at the other end of the tampon for momentarily preventing said portion from becoming wetted from the walls of the vagina while the tampon is being inserted in place, whereby the expansion of the tampon is caused to occur first at the end facing the cervix to effect a rapidly forming seal for the inner-portion of the canal.

14. An initially self-sustaining elongated catamenial tampon of mushroom shape and formed of compressed material capable of absorbing menstrual excretions and adapted when in operative position to be clutched by the vaginal wall and when wetted, having approximately an elongated frusto-conical form capable of having its axis slightly bent, having a pin-like recess extending axially inwardly from its larger end facing the cervix for a distance approximately onethird of the length of the tampon to receive therein the menstrual excretion, said larger end being defined between the recess and its perimeter by a plurality of segments and the opposite smaller end bein solid, and means for withdrawing the wetted tampon from the canal with its smaller solid end in advance and said tampon adapted while being withdrawn to form a conical wedge to dilate gently and progressively the canal walls and the vaginal orifice.

15. An elongated one-piece intravaginal device for absorbing the menstrual fiow into the same end-wise and formed of absorbent fibrous material, precompressed to form, tending tomaintain its initial form until wetted and automatically expandable in all directions from its initial form when wetted, said device fashioned to fit comfortably high in the human vaginal canal in position spaced from both the sphincter muscles and from the uterus, the outer end of which device is designed to lie adjacent the sphincter muscles and being solid and of substantially cylindrical form, a withdrawal element secured to the said solid end, the inner end of which device is contoured for facing the cavity beneath the uterine orifice, and provided with a long recess of substantially cylindrical form confined to the inner end and terminating in spaced relation to the outer end extending axially to the solid end and said recess being empty when inserted in place and there adapted to receive at least part of the menstrual flow discharged into said cavity, the interior portion of the wall outlining the recess providing inter-fibre spaces for receiving the menstrual fiow from the recess and thus tending to reduce the hydrostatic pressure of the 'menstrual flow as it collects in said cavity, and said recessed inner end distending more rapidly than the solid end thereby tending to seal the device quickly at its inner-end and thus tend to prevent leakage, the end of :the wall facing the uterus being sufficiently rigid and having its outer edge rounded and forming a blunt end wedge for gently opening the vaginal canal as the device is ad vanced into position, and the well in said end being at all times at least as far advanced as the transverse plane which contains the outer edges of said wall thereby to locate the fluid receiving end of the recess in the most advanced part of the wedging end and said recess having a cross sectional area at its receiving end materially less than would be necessary to receive the cervix of the uterus if the device should happen to be so far advanced.

16. A combined container and applicator for a catamenial device of the type consisting, at least in part, of a precompressed cylindrical core of absorbent material, comprising a first semi-rigid cardboard tube of a diameter to receive said cylindrical core and which tube is not intended to have such rigidity as would defeat its radial distortion when subjected to the squeezing effect of the contractor muscles at the vaginal orifice as the applicator is being inserted in the vaginal canal, a second tube partly contained within the first tube with its first extremity adapted to contact said core and with its other extremity projecting from said first tube so that when said latter extremity is forced axially towards the first tube, said tubes will react telescopically and cause said first extremity to force said core from said first tube, said second tube having an external diameter materially less than the internal diameter of the first tube thereby to provide for a suflicient clearance to give a freedom of relative telescopic movements of the tubes at all times even under those conditions where the first tube may become distorted in its cross sectional configuration from its original cylindrical configuration.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination of an initially straight tube formed of a material having sufficient rigidity to maintain its initial form when not in use and having suflicient flexibility to permit a slight bending thereof transversely of its axis automatically to conform at least approximately to the upward curvature of the vaginal canal as the device is inserted therein and said tube capable of being distorted radially by the constrictor muscles at the vaginal orifice as the tube is inserted in place whereby the tube tends to take the cross sectional form imposed 'thereon by the constrictor muscles as it passes the same and tends to take the lengthwise curve or bend imposed thereon by the curvature of the particular canal in which it is introduced, and an intravaginal tampon having one end fitted loosely in the advance end of the tube and the other end projecting from'said advance end of the tube and said tampon mounted for universal articulation in the tube and tending to adjust itself automatically to bring its axis in the angled relation to the general axis of the bent tube to conform to the curve imposed on the device by the curve of the canal in the portion thereof in advanceof the tube.

18. An article of manufacture constituting a catamenial device, including an outer tube of paper-like, readily disintegrable when wetted material adapted to be intruded into the vaginal canal, havingsufilcient rigidity to maintain its initial form when not in use but responsive, at least to a slight degree to manual manipulation to provide that cross-sectional contour which the user has found experimentally to be most even when the tube has become distorted by the compressive action of said muscles.

19. An article of manufacture comprising a plug of absorbent material adapted to form a tampon for use in the vaginal cavity, a tube of semi-flexible and semi-rigid material intouone end of which tube the plug. is temporarily inserted, said tube having suflicient rigidity to maintain its form when not in use and-sufiiciently distortable when in use to conform at least to a limited degree to the form imposed thereon by the particular vaginal cavity into which it is inserted, and an ejector telescoping into the opposite end of the tube, said ejector for its entire length within the tube having an external diameter materially less than the internal diameter of the tube and adjacent end of the plug whereby even though the tube becomes distorted while in use the ejector is free to move along lines both axially and at small angles to the axis whereby pressure may be directed along different lines 1 circumferentially about the adjacent end of the plug to loosen the plug in the event the plug becomes stuck on one side more than on another.

20. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tubular holder with its bore wide open at one end and formed of a deliquescent material and thus liable to contract its bore when wetted, and a plug of absorbent material having a preformed compressed portion fashioned to fit loosely in the bore at said open end and thus capable of assuming a position with its axis at an angle relative to the length of the holder when the holder is either dry or wetted and said tampon considered as a whole adapted to expand when wetted, said tampon and holder cooperatively dimensioned to permit their easy separation under I conditions where the tube when wet tends to contract its bore into a closer approach to a fit on the tampon than when both holder and tampon are dry.

flit-A catamenial device comprising a plug of absorbent material designed to be placed high lathe-humanvaginal canal to form an intravaginal tampon, precompressed to a substantial cylindrical form, maintaining such form until wetted and when wetted tending to distend from its compressed form and in distending acting to along the axis of the cylinder and open through said end to receive the menstrual fiow from the portion of the canal in advance of the same, the cylinder. wall encircling the recess providing means for absorbing the menstrual flow which contacts its exposed end face as well as the menstrual flow received in said recess the opposite end being solid and forming the bottom of the recess.

22. A catamenial device comprising a plug of absorbent material designed to be placed high in the human vaginal canal to form an intravaginal tampon, precompressed to a mushroom shape, maintaining said shape until wetted and when wetted tending to expand in all directions, said tampon including a cylindrical body portion having integral therewith at one end thereof an enlarged, hard, bulbous head, said head providing on its advanced side a convex end adapted to constitute a dilator for gently opening the vaginal canal as the tampon is inserted in place in the canal.

23. A device comprising a body of absorbent material designed to be intruded into a body cavity to form a tampon precompressed to a substantially cylindrical form, and when wetted tending to distend from its compressed form and in distendlng acting to bear on the wall of the cavity, the device provided in its inner intruded end with a long pin-like recess extending lengthwise substantially along the axis of the cylinder and open through said end to receive fiuids from the portion of the cavity in advance of the same, the cylinder wall encircling the recess providing means for absorbing the flow which contacts its exposed end face as well as the flow received in said recess.

24. A tampon for catamenial purposes comprising an absorbent body reduced to a sufiiciently small volume to permit of its complete insertion into the body cavity, one of the end portions of said tampon forming an enlarged headand more compacted than the remainder, and said tampon provided with an internal bore or cavity confined largely to said head.

25. A tampon for catamenial purposes formed of an absorbent material compressed to a size permitting of easy insertion into the body cavity and of such nature that upon absorption of liquid concerned. said tampon having a substantially cylindrical body portion for a portion of its length and an end portion of larger diameter than the body portion, one end of the tampon being dome-shaped to facilitate its entrance into the body cavity, said portion of larger diameter provided with a cavity extending axially therethrough and terminating in the body portion of less diameter, one portion of the tampon being compact to a lesser degree than another portion, said portions of different degrees of compaction providing for a variation in the rate of absorption of liquid into diflerent parts of the tampon.

26. A catamenial tampon comprising a cylinder of highly compressed absorbent fibrous material, said compressed cylinder being self-retaining in size and shape and having an opening extending from its forward or insertion end into the interior thereof to facilitate absorption by an expansion of the tampon, and a withdrawal cord secured to the other end of said cylinder.

27. An intravaginal tampon of absorbent fibrous material having an end adapted when the tampon is in operative position in the vaginalcanal to be nearest the cervix and said end provided with interflbre spaces and also with at least one groove extending across the same and functioning in a tendency to diffuse the menstrual excretions throughout the interfibre spaces in the material forming said end of the tampon.

28. A device fashioned for use as an intravaginal catamenial tampon including a plug of ab- 

